STB Ends Oversight: Trackage rights, new competition cited as reason for allowing UP-SP oversight to end on schedule. (Rail).(Surface Transportation Board; Union Pacific Railroad-Southern Pacific merger)(Brief Article)

As far as the Surface Transportation Board is concerned, it's time to finally close the books on the Union Pacific Railroad-Southern Pacific merger. Its five-year oversight of the merger that it approved in 1996 concluded with its Dec. 20 decision closing the case. In addition, the Board addressed various disputes concerning trackage rights given to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway in connection with the merger.

The Board's decision to end the oversight as scheduled -- despite requests from some parties to extend the oversight period -- was bolstered by the last round of oversight reports submitted by UP and BNSF. "The board noted, in particular, that the public record in this case demonstrates that the imposed conditions have maintained and fostered rail competition in the western United States, and that …